. >> there is no responsible way we can govern this country with those low rates in place for future generations those rates have to go up. >> reporter: republicans have drawn a line in the sand on raising tax rates signaling they are open to raising revenue by reforming the tax code and limiting reductions for the wealthy. >> right now i would say we are nowhere. >> reporter: president obama asking for 1.6 trillion in new tax revenue over 10 years, boehner is offering half that. the president offering 600 billion dollars in cuts to medicare and other programs. the speaker says that is not enough. he hasn't outlined what he thinks should be cut. if they can't avoid the fiscal cliff, january 1st, nearly every american will pay more income tax between $2,000 to $2400 for the average family, 2% cut in payroll taxes will disappear, 500 billion dollars in automatic spending cuts in effect, half at the pentagon the other half from educating, transportation, food safety and research. economists fear if washington can strike a deal the economy will fall back into recession and employment wil